Author Topic: SpaceX use of the SPIF (Spacecraft Processing and Integration Facility)  (Read 77381 times)

Offline Jim

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Re: SpaceX use of the SPIF
« Reply #20 on: 04/20/2014 03:22 pm »
Originally, the Shuttle Payload Integration Facility and changed to Spacecraft Processing and Integration Facility after Challenger

Offline Jim

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Re: SpaceX use of the SPIF
« Reply #21 on: 04/20/2014 05:49 pm »
Some old interior shots.  I will get more info when I go back to work

Offline RonM

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Re: SpaceX use of the SPIF
« Reply #22 on: 04/20/2014 05:57 pm »
How many integration cells are in the SPIF?

Offline Jim

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Re: SpaceX use of the SPIF
« Reply #23 on: 04/20/2014 06:17 pm »
How many integration cells are in the SPIF?


two and a holding cell

Offline Lars_J

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Re: SpaceX use of the SPIF
« Reply #24 on: 04/20/2014 06:49 pm »
Any word on how much SpaceX is paying for the use of this building? Or is it just a "you pay the upkeep" type of arrangement, like with Pad 39A?

Offline Jim

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Re: SpaceX use of the SPIF
« Reply #25 on: 04/20/2014 06:54 pm »
Any word on how much SpaceX is paying for the use of this building? Or is it just a "you pay the upkeep" type of arrangement, like with Pad 39A?

I believe it would be like 39A.  The NRO is now using the EPF.
« Last Edit: 04/20/2014 07:02 pm by Jim »

Offline manboy

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Re: SpaceX use of the SPIF
« Reply #26 on: 04/21/2014 02:28 am »
Any word on how much SpaceX is paying for the use of this building? Or is it just a "you pay the upkeep" type of arrangement, like with Pad 39A?

I believe it would be like 39A.  The NRO is now using the EPF.
If that's case than SpaceX is getting a damn good deal.
"Cheese has been sent into space before. But the same cheese has never been sent into space twice." - StephenB

Offline Tomness

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Re: Spacex use of the SPIF
« Reply #27 on: 04/21/2014 06:29 am »
Here is a integration cell being used for STS-44, DSP on an IUS

Those technician's in those clean room suits sure do look like Ninjas, talk about security.
Thanks Jim for sharing all this cool spaceflight photos.

Offline newpylong

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Re: SpaceX use of the SPIF
« Reply #28 on: 04/21/2014 01:02 pm »
What's the other tall building just to the north on Titan III rd?

Offline Jim

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Re: SpaceX use of the SPIF
« Reply #29 on: 04/21/2014 01:33 pm »
What's the other tall building just to the north on Titan III rd?

SMARF.  It was for the TIV SRMUs

Offline b ramsey

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Re: SpaceX use of the SPIF
« Reply #30 on: 04/21/2014 01:44 pm »
EPF   eastern processing facility      its on Phillips Pkwy And Lighthouse R

Online edkyle99

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Re: SpaceX use of the SPIF
« Reply #31 on: 04/21/2014 02:05 pm »
Here is a integration cell being used for STS-44, DSP on an IUS

Those technician's in those clean room suits sure do look like Ninjas, talk about security.
Thanks Jim for sharing all this cool spaceflight photos.
Those are the same suits we wore on the civilian, non-classified side.  They're not for security, they're to minimize contamination to the hardware since humans are the dirtiest things in the room!   Those with facial hair had to wear the face mask parts. 

Back in the day, when I worked at KSC, I knew vaguely that this all existed, but it still took my breath away to finally see photos of it years later.  It was an entire parallel classified universe, not only of the big test stands but of the people.  There was even an alternate me over there! 

 - Ed Kyle
« Last Edit: 04/21/2014 02:05 pm by edkyle99 »

Offline terryy

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Re: SpaceX use of the SPIF
« Reply #32 on: 04/25/2014 02:36 am »
I am still unclear on a couple of points.  Does anyone else use the SPIF?   Or will SpaceX be the only user?  Jim says the NRO is now using the EPF, so was this facility mainly used for national security payloads before and they no longer have a use for it?  Thanks.

Offline Ludus

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Offline newpylong

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Re: SpaceX use of the SPIF
« Reply #34 on: 04/25/2014 10:47 am »
So the SMAB became the SPIF?

Offline Jim

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Re: SpaceX use of the SPIF
« Reply #35 on: 04/25/2014 01:35 pm »
I am still unclear on a couple of points.  Does anyone else use the SPIF?   Or will SpaceX be the only user?  Jim says the NRO is now using the EPF, so was this facility mainly used for national security payloads before and they no longer have a use for it?  Thanks.

 I believe it is only Spacex using the facility.  And yes, the DOD moved out.  The NRO has the EPF and the USAF uses the DPF and Astrotech. 

Offline Jim

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Re: SpaceX use of the SPIF
« Reply #36 on: 04/25/2014 01:38 pm »
So the SMAB became the SPIF?

No, the SMAB is the whole building.  The SPIF is in the west bay.  IUS was built up in the east bay.  All the while, Titan still used the high bay for SRM processing until the advent of the SRMU, which used the SMARF.

Offline Jim

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Re: SpaceX use of the SPIF
« Reply #37 on: 04/25/2014 01:43 pm »
I have all the drawings for the SPIF.  There is one problem.  Whoever "packaged" the drawings onto the CD used the same reference number for the index of the drawings and the overview drawing.  So in setting up the CD, the overview drawing was deleted.  I am looking for alternative sources for the drawing.  The rest of the drawings have no context for those unfamiliar with the SPIF without this overview drawing

Offline Jim

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Re: SpaceX use of the SPIF
« Reply #38 on: 04/25/2014 01:47 pm »

Back in the day, when I worked at KSC, I knew vaguely that this all existed, but it still took my breath away to finally see photos of it years later.  It was an entire parallel classified universe, not only of the big test stands but of the people.  There was even an alternate me over there! 

 - Ed Kyle

The contact that Ed worked on was PGOC (Payload Ground Operations Contract) and MDAC had it.  KSC used this for Spacelab processing and shuttle payload integration.  The parallel contract for the USAF was SPOC (Shuttle Payload Operations Contract), which was also MDAC.  It made things easy since SPOC could be supplemented by PGOC personnel during critical ops.

Offline mfck

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Re: SpaceX use of the SPIF
« Reply #39 on: 07/30/2014 10:10 pm »
I have all the drawings for the SPIF.  There is one problem.  Whoever "packaged" the drawings onto the CD used the same reference number for the index of the drawings and the overview drawing.  So in setting up the CD, the overview drawing was deleted.  I am looking for alternative sources for the drawing.  The rest of the drawings have no context for those unfamiliar with the SPIF without this overview drawing
I take it you have not found an alternative source for the drawing. That's a pity. Anyways, thanks for the interesting info and pictures.

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